Snow-shed.



C. M. GINTER.

SNOW SHED.

APPLICATION FILED IUNE l. 1915. I 1 1,200,483. Patented Oct. 10,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

(g1/wants@ cinders and gases, or

CHARLES M. GINTER, OF TABERNASH, COLORADO.

SNOW-SHED.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. IO, MMS.

Application led June 1, 1915.` Serial No. 31,324.

T0 all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. GINTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tabernash, county of Grand, and Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Snow-Sheds; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the saine, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in snow sheds for railways, my object being to provide a shed of this character .which while adapted to prevent the snow from interfering with traiiic, shall at the same time be sufficiently open as to permit the smoke,

the products of combustion, to escape, and prevent their retention or settling within the shed.

Snow sheds as heretofore constructed so far as I am aware, have been of such character as to cause an accumulation of smoke and gases to such an extent as in many instances to render the trainmen unconscious. This is particularly true where these sheds are of considerable length; and even in instances where the trainmen have not been completely overcome, the air has been so contaminated with the gases and products of combustion as tov render it unfit for breathing, thus producing an unhealthy and dangerous condition to which trainmen have been subjected while passing through these sheds.

My improvement is intended to overcome this diiiiculty and to this end, I make provision for allowing the smoke and gases to escape at the top of the shed through an opening at the apex of a slant roof. I also provide an auxiliary or subroof underneath the exterior or main roof and extending at a different angle thereto, whereby the two roof membersare spaced, the auxiliary roof being farthest from the main or exterior roof, at the upper extremity of the subroof, thus making provision for the escape of the gases and products of combustion when the atmosphere is heavy and when these elements would otherwise settle in the shed to the injury of the trainmen. In my improvement, the settling smoke and gases will pass State of.

between the main and auxiliary roofs and roll downwardly under the eaves, as heretofore indicated.

Having briefly outlined my improvement, I will proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof. f

t In this drawing,-Figure l is a cross section of my improved snow shed a locomotive being outlined in front view in order to indicate the manner in which the products of combustion from the smo-ke stack are handled by my improved construction. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary central longitudinal section of the shed with parts broken away and other parts shown in elevation. The section is taken on the line 2-2, Fig. l.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate each of the side walls of my improved shed. These walls are vertically disposed and suitably spaced for the purpose. Extending upwardly from the upper edge ofthese side walls is an exterior or main slant roof 6 composed of rafters 7 and a sheeting 8. These rafters are brought together at the top or peak of the shed in the usual manner as shown at 4, and are suitably spaced (see Fig. 2). The inclination of the rafters is such as to form a relatively steep roof, thus preventing any accumulation of snow thereon. The joining of the rafters at the top is sufficiently above the top of the smoke stack 9 as to give the smoke and 'gases issuing from the stack an opportunity to rise withoutV obstruction. The sheeting 8 terminates, as shown at l0, a short distance below the upper extremities of the rafters, thusleaving an opening at the peak of the roof for the escape of the issuing smoke and gases. In order to prevent the snow from entering the shed at the top, a cap 12 is applied to the rafters and extends sufficiently beyond the same on opposite sides to provide openings 13 to permit the free escape of the smoke and gases during clear weather or when the atmosphere is sufliciently light as to prevent any tendency to settle. IIence, on clear days, the smoke from the stacksof the locomotives will escape at the top of the main roof.

The rafters 7 are supported at the upper extremities of the side walls 5, where they are secured. The rafters are, however, of such thickness that when their inner edges are in engagement or slightly mortised into the upper edges of the side walls, there will still be a considerable space 141 between the sheeting S and the adjacent edges of the side walls, to allow the smoke and gases when the atmosphere is heavy, to pass down'- wardly and out underneath the eaves or projecting parts 15 of the main roof. I-Iowever, in order to prevent the tendency of the smoke and gases when the atmosphere is heavy from settling and accumulating in the shed, and sufiiciently lo-w rto produce a dangerous condition so far as the trainmen are concerned, I employ an auxiliary or subroof composed of inclined side members 16, each of which consist'of rafters 17v and a sheeting 1S. The lower extremities of these rafters 17 are secured to the upper extremities of the. side Walls as shown at 19, the lower edges of the sheeting being also secured to the exterior corners of the upper extremities of the side walls, as shown :at 20.

The members 16 of the auxiliary roof extend upwardly from the side walls at a less angle than the corresponding members of the main roof, whereby the corresponding members of the main and subroofs on opposite sides gradually diverge from each other as they extend upwardly from the side walls, thus forming spaces 2l between the side members of the two roofs on opposite sides, which spaces are widest at the top and gradually diminish in width as they extend downwardly to the eaves of the shed. The upper extremities of the members 16 of the auxiliary roof are spaced as shown at 22 sufliciently to permit the free escape of the smoke and products of combustion designated by the numeral 23, as they issue from the smoke stack 9. These upper extremities 914 of the auxiliary `roof are provided with slight upward sheeting extensions 2G, thus forming a relatively vertical channel for the guidance of the products of combustion as they issue from the smoke stack. In order to further support and tie the sloping members of both roofs together in coperative relation, vrods 27 are passed transversely through the side members of both roofs, being secured to the exterior surface of the sheeting of the main or upper roof as shown at 28.

In order to provide for light within the shed, as far as practicable, the upper portions `of the side walls 5 may be equipped at suitable intervals with windows 29. Provision may be made if desired for opening these windows in goed weather or when there is no necessity for keeping them closed to prevent the entrance of mospheric precipitation.

From the foregoing description,

the use, as well as some of the advantages of my imsnow or other at-v proved snow shed construction will be readily understood. Heretofore, so far as I amv aware, these snow sheds have been formed with liat roofs with vopenings in the top at suitable intervals in order to make provision as far as practicable with this character of shed, for the escape of the smoke and gases from the locomotives. The result of the employment of this old style of shed is that while the provision for the escape of the products of combustion from the locomotives is very inadequate', at the same time, there is opportunity for the accumulation of snow upon the tops of these sheds which is liable to crush them. In any event this accumulation of snow if it does no other injury, remains on the top of the shed and gradually melts, ythe water running downwardly into the shed and finally freezes to such an extent that it must be chopped out and removed in order to prevent actual obstruction of the trains. This leaky condition of the flat lroofs of the old form of sheds, also renders vthe clothing of the trainmen wet or sufliciently damp in spite of their eorts 'to escape it, as to produce an unhealthy condition from this cause alone. The main difliculty,however, incident to the employment of the old style snow shed, is that no adequate :provision is made for the esca-pe of the smoke and gases from the locomotives. Recently, my attention has been called to specific cases where trainmen have been rendered unconscious in tunnels of this character. In fact, I myself have been overcome by these gases, 4remaining unconscious for 'an hour 5and a half or two hours, thus emphasizing in a 'particularly strong manner the necessity for better conditions in this class of structure. The recent difficulties on The Denver & Salt Lake Railroad Company in this regard have been so great, that is to say, so many of the trainmen have been overcome by the smoke and gases whereby fatalities have only been miraculously avoided, that the management of the road has found it necessary to remove the roofs from these sheds, with the result that the late spring snows have entered the sheds to such an extent as to obstruct traflic. In the face of all these difiiculties, I have been forcibly impressed with the necessity for better snow. shed equipments for railroads and with this object in view, have produced the construction herein set forth. The diiiculties attending the old style-of sheds have been accentuated by the fact that each train in these sheds on mountain roads very frequently has three or four locomotives and sometimes there are several trains in the same shed. From this it will be understood that the volume of smoke and gases from the locomotives is necessarily very great.

Aseheretofore outlined with and gases as they issue from the stacksV of the locomotives, will pass upwardly between the upper extremities of the auxiliary roof and in clear weather, when the atmosphere is light, issue from the peak of the main roof as indicated in the drawing, these elements first striking the cap l2, after which they are deflected on both sides and readily pass out into the atmosphere at the top of the main roof. However, when the atmosphere is heavy and there is a tendency'for this volume of products of combustion to settle, this settling will result in the passing of these elements downwardly between the side members of the main roof and the corresponding members of the auxiliary roof, which are spaced from the side members as heretofore explained. These heavy volumes of smoke and gases will continue their downward movement and'escape at the eaves of the main roof, as indicated by the arrows (see Fig. l).

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. A snow shed, including side walls and slanting roof members, each member being open at the top for the escape of the smoke and gases, the two parts of the outer member being spaced from the upper extremities of the side walls and extending below the same to facilitate the escape of the smoke and gases.

2. A snow shed, including inner and outer inclined roof members, laterally spaced, the two parts of each member open at the top for the escape of the smoke and gases, the space between the two members being open at the top and bottom, the bottom opening being in communication with the atmosphere.

3. A snow shed comprising side walls, an inclined roof member composed of two parts meeting in a peak at the top and open to permit the escape of smoke and gases, a cap located above said opening and having lateral outlets in communication therewith, an auxiliary member interiorly located and spaced from the main member and extending upwardly from the side walls at angles from the latter different from those formed by the main roof'parts, the top of the auxiliary member being open and in vertical Copies of this patent may be obtained for the outer member approach each other at ve cents each, by addressing the alinement with the top opening of the main member.

4. A snow shed comprising side walls, inner and outer roof members, each member being composed of two parts, the parts of forming a peak at the top, and having a capped escape opening for smoke and gases, side walls suitably spaced and forming a support for the roof members, the parts of -the exterior member being` spaced from the upper edges of the side walls to form escapes at the eaves of the structure, the parts of the inner member extending upwardly from the side walls at different angles from the corresponding parts of the exterior member.

5. A snow shed having suitably spaced side walls and interior and exterior roof members, each composed of two inclined parts approaching each other as they extend upwardly, both roof members having top openings and the adjacent parts of the two members being spaced to form passages, the structure having openings at the eaves placing said spaces between the roof parts of the two members, in communication with the atmosphere.

6. A snow shed having side walls and a slanting roof supported by said walls,'said roof being composed of two members which approach each other at the top to form a peak, the roof being open at the top, and a portion of the members composing the said roof being spaced from the respective side walls, for the purpose set forth.

7 A snow shed having side walls and a slanting roof supported by said walls, said roof being composed of two members which the top to form a peak, the roof being open at the top, a cap located above said opening, and a portion of the members composing the said roof being spaced from the respective side walls, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof l affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES M. GINTER.

Witnesses:

HOWARD l?. MITCHELL, GEORGE W. MEEKER.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, '.D. C. 

